Item No.A.2   AGENDA
                                                   137th Meeting of the
                                                   SENATE
                                                   26.03.97

        REPORT OF THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES COMMITTEE (UGPC)

        The Committee met twice after the last meeting of the Senate held
in November 1996.

A.2.1 :   Disciplinary action on the students who use "Unfair Means in Academic
          Matters."

        The Item was discussed in the 136th meeting held on 4th December
1996.  This was referred back to UGPC for further deliberations taking into
account the views expressed by the members of the Senate.  The committee
deliberated on this item and recommends the following penalty for use of
unfair means in academic matters.

---------------------------------------------------------
Category (a) :

        Copying in assignments and laboratory projects or any other similar
act of indiscipline.

        The committee observed that while the instructors may reduce the
total score by 20% or may award two grade points less, the maximum penalty
may be an 'FF' grade in that Course.


        THE SENATE DISCUSSED THE MATTER AT LENGTH AND DECIDED AS UNDER:
        I)      RECOMMENDATION UNDER CATEGORY (A) BE ACCEPTED WITH THE 2ND
PARA MODIFIED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
                THE COMMITTEE OBSERVED THAT THE MAXIMUM PENALTY CAN BE UPTO
AN "FF" GRADE IN THAT COURSE.

---------------------------------------------------------
Category (b) :

        Prompting answers, seeking answers from neighbours, carrying small
chits with written material, scribblings on one's palm etc. during
quiz/test/examination, making changes in valued answer books or any other
similar act of indiscipline.

        The committee recommends that the minimum penalty is to award FF
grade in that course and not to permit the student to take re-examinations
in that course.

        If the instructor observes that there is a case for higher penalty,
then he/she may refer the case to the Disciplinary Committee.


        II)     RECOMMENDATION UNDER CATEGORY (B) BE ACCEPTED WITH THE
INCLUSION OF THE FOLLOWING IN THE LIST OF UNFAIR MEANS:
                'CARRYING COPYING MATERIAL IN A PROGRAMMED CALCULATOR'.

---------------------------------------------------------

Category (c) :

        Repetition of unfair means as outlined under category (a) and
category (b), possesssion of written material such as class notes, text
books, carrying written supplements and attaching to the main paper or any
other similar act of indiscipline.

        The case may be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and the
minimum punishment will be cancellation of registration and suspension for
one year.  However, at the end of the suspension period, the student may be
permitted to take re-examination in the backlog courses in which he has
previously obtained FF grade.

        III)    RECOMMENDATION UNDER CATEGORY (C) BE ACCEPTED.

---------------------------------------------------------
Category (d):
        Copying material from text books/theses/dissertations/project
reports as partial fulfillment for a degree (without giving any reference
to them) or use of similar unfair means or any other similar act of
indiscipline.

        The case may be referred to the Disciplinary Committee and the
minimum penalty is suspension for a period of one year.

        The committee is of the opinion that for Ph.D. thesis, if the
Disciplinary Committee finds the charges are proved, it may even recommend
withdrawal of the degree already awarded to the candidate.

        The Disciplinary Committee will consist of:

        (i)      Dean (AP)
        (ii)     Dean (SA)
        (iii)    The concerned Instructor/Supervisor
        (iv)     Two members nominated by the Director.



        IV)     RECOMMENDATION UNDER CATEGORY (D) BE ACCEPTED WITH THE 1ST
AND 3RD PARAS MODIFIED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

                "COPYING MATERIAL FROM TEXT
BOOKS/THESES/DISSERTATIONS/PROJECT REPORTS AS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR A
DEGREE (WITHOUT GIVING ANY REFERNCE TO THEM) OR USE OF SIMILAR UNFAIR MEANS
OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR ACT OF INDISCIPLINE.  AN EXCEPTION MAY BE MADE IF A
PROPER REFERENCE IS NOT GIVEN IN THE LITERATURE SURVEY CHAPTER".

        THE COMMITTEE IS OF THE OPINION THAT IF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
FINDS THE CHARGES ARE PROVED FOR A THESIS/DISSERTAION, IT MAY EVEN
RECOMMEND WITHDRAWAL OF THE DEGREE ALREADY AWARDED TO THE CANDIDATE.

        IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT LEGAL OPINION BE OBTAINED ABOUT THE
POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF WITHDRAWING A DEGREE AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATION
UNDER CATEGORY (D) BE SUITABLY REWARDED, IF NECESSARY.